Door assembly



July 27, 1965 Q. A. SCHNEIDER DOOR ASSEMBLY 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 4, 1963 ATTOAP/VEVS July 27, 1965 o. A. SCHNEIDER DOOR ASSEMBLY 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 4, 1963 R z 4 M MM 2 T/ E w 0 E N J 0 0/ VM w 6 A U1 J 4 5 w m W a w Z 0 i x H 1 o..|..

4 a L 4 2 |I| 1 I HU UHHHW i iiL M m m h United States Patent 3,196,933 DOOR ASSEMBLY Oakley A. Schneider, Bloclrtou, Iowa Filed Mar. 4, 1963, Ser. No. 262,585 6 Qlairns. (Ci. l6tl--2tl7) This invention relates to a door assembly and particularly to the mechanism for an overhead door which is moved from a closed extended vertical position to an open horizontal collapsed position.

It is an object of this invention to provide an overhead door which will occupy an overhead space in its open position of less length than its vertical height in a closed position.

It is an object of this invention to provide an overhead door which will fold along a line intermediate its ends when moved to an open horizontal position.

It is an object of this invention to provide an overhead door which will move to an open position entirely on one side of its vertical plane in a closed position.

It is an object of this invention to provide an overhead door requiring a minimum of effort to open and close.

It is an object of this invention to provide a door having a latch means which is released upon opening of the door to permit movement thereof to the doors open hori zontal position, and upon partially closing of the door the latch means is automatically locked permitting the door to move to its vertical closed position.

It is an object of this invention to provide a door having a latch means to secure it in a closed vertical position and another latch means to secure it in an open horizontal position.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a door having a latch means which will automatically lock the door in an open position and a latch means which will automatically lock the door in a closed position.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a door simple in construction, durable in use, economical in manufacture, and refined in appearance.

Various other objects and advantages will appear from the following description of one embodiment of the invention, and the novel features will be particularly pointed out hereinafter in connection with the appended claims and illustrated in the drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the complete door assembly from the back side thereof;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a portion of the door assembly illustrating part of one side of the top door support structure;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional side elevation view of the door in a partially opened position taken along line 3-3 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a side elevation view of the door assembly illustrating a portion of the door in several positions as it is being opened and closed;

FIG. 5 is a side elevation view of the door assembly in an open position;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary, perspective view of the door roller support means employed in the door assembly;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary, perspective view of a latching means employed to secure the door in an open position; and

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary, perspective view of the latching means employed to secure the door in a closed position.

In the drawings the folding garage door is generally referred to by reference numeral 10. The garage door 10 comprises a top section 12 and a bottom section 14 hingedly connected at their inner ends by hinge means 16 mounted on the outside of the door section faces. The garage door It in its closed position as illustrated in FIG.

3,l%,933 Patented July 27, 1965 1, is mounted flush in the wall of a garage in mating engagement with a header 18 along the top edge of top section 12 and having the door side edges nested between garage vertical frame members 20. Vertical U-shaped channel members 22 are in mating engagement along the rear side of the vertical frame members on opposite sides of the door 10. Horizontal support members 24 are secured to the rear face of the header l8 and extend rearwardly and perpendicular thereto and are in spaced parallel relationship to each other. The horizontal support members 24 as shown are U-shaped channel members having their opening sides facing each other. A

transverse support member 26 is supported in any suit able manner to the garage structure and in turn gives support to the horizontal support members 24 in their rearward ends remote from the header 18.

A latch member 28 is pivotally mounted on each of the horizontal support members 24 adjacent the header 18. The latch member 23 comprises a plate member 30 as shown in FIG. 2 and pivoted in a vertical plane by a perpendicular pin 32 secured to the plate member at its end remote from the header 18. Pin 32 is secured to the top face of the top leg of the U-shaped channel support member 24 by a strap bearing 34. The plate member 30 extends along the outer edges of the leg portions of the U-shaped channel support member 24 and terminates adjacent the header 18. A pin 36 extends perpendicularly inwardly from the inside face and intermediate the ends of the plate member 30. An abutment tab portion 38 extends perpendicularly outwardly from the plate member 30 at its upper edge and is adapted to limit the downward pivotal movement of the plate member 30 about its pivotal pin axis 32 by engaging the top surface of the U-shaped channel support member 24. The bottom edge of the plate member 36 at its end adjacent the header 18 terminates in a vertical rounded shoulder 40 concave in shape, which in turn terminates in a longitudinal shoulder 42 parallel to the top edge of the plate member 30. The longitudinal shoulder 42 then terminates at the end of the plate member 34}. The latch member 28 in its position having its abutment tabs 38 resting on the top surface of the U-shaped channel 24, partially closes the opening into the U-shaped channel.

A pair of support arms 44 is mounted near the top edge of the top door section 12 for movable engagement with the support members 24. Each of the support arms comprises a rod-like element 46 welded to a plate element 48 which in turn is bolted or screwed to the door section 12 as best illustrated in FIG. 2. The rod-like element 46 extends from the plate 48 toward the top edge of the door section 12 and beyond a short distance as illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 5, and terminates in a portion 56 which extends transversely outwardly of the door section 12. A roller 52 is mounted on the outer end of the portion 56). As shown in FIGS. 3 and 5, the rod-like element 46 extends at an angle to the plane of the door section 12. The end of the transverse portion 50 is enlarged in diameter for supporting the roller 52 and engaging the shoulders 40 and 42 of the latch member 28. A plate element 56 extends perpendicular of and along the outer surface of the rod-like element 46 secured to the plate element 48. Plate element 56 has an outer tapered edge 58 sloping inwardly and upwardly toward the upper edge and face of the door section 12 as shown in FIG. 2 of the drawings.

As shown in FIG. 1, when the door is in its closed position, a roller 60 is mounted on the door section 12 be low each of the support arms 44. As seen in FIG. 6, the roller 60 is secured to the door section 12 by a plate element 62 which is vertically adjustable relative to the door section 12. Mounting screws 64 extend through slots 65 formed in the plate element 62. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the bottom leg of the U-shaped channel support a member 24 has an opening formed therein to permit entrance of the roller 60. The roller 60 is spaced from the bottom leg of the U-shaped channel support member 24 by the support bearing element 68 to permit clearance between the top door section 12 and the support members 24.

A roller 70, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, is mounted at the lower edge of and along each side of the bottom door section 14 and moves in vertical channels 22. A pin 72 is mounted at one end to the roller 70 and at the other end in a bearing 74 on the door section 14. As shown in FIG. 3, a connecting link 76 is mounted at one end between the roller 70 and the bearing '74 and is connected to a cable means 73 at its other end. Cable means 78 extends along and in each of the channels 22, over a roller 80 at the top of the channels, thence rearwardly of the door to a reel mechanism 82 mounted on top of the transverse support member 26. The reel mechanisms 82 shown in FIG. 1, are tensioned by the coil springs 84 which are adjustable by varying the length of the cables 78. Ordinarily sufficient tension is maintained in the cables 78 to counterbalance the weight of the door as it is being moved from its closed position to its open position.

A handle 86 as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3 on the outside of the door 10 is connected through a cable 88, as illustrated in FIG. 3, to a spring-loaded pin 90 adjacent the upper edge of the door section 14. Adjacent pin 90, but on the lower edge of door section 12, is a spring-loaded latch element 92 mostly clearly illustrated in FIG. 8 for engagement with the spring-loaded pin 90. Latch element 92 is limited by a stop means 94 in its pivotal movement out of a position perpendicular to the door section 12. The outer end of the latch element 92 has a tapered portion 96 for initial bearing contact with the springloaded pin 90 as the door is being closed. The tapered portion and the main body portion of the latch element forms a hook portion 98 for engagement with the springloaded pin 90 when the door is in its closed position as shown in FIG. 8. Strap bearings 100 which support pin 90 are mounted on plate 102 which in turn is secured by suitable means to the bottom door section 14.

A T-shaped member 104 illustrated in FIGS. 1, 3 and 7 extends through the bottom section 14 of the door 10 along the lower edge thereof and intermediate its sides. The T-shaped member 104 has a transverse portion 106 formed on the outer end thereof and extending beyond the outside surface of the door section 14. The handle portion 108 of the T-shaped member 104 has cables 110 connected at its opposite ends. Cables 110 extend in opposite directions respectively from the end portions of handle portion 108 transversely along the lower edge of the door section 14 through eye elements 112, thence upwardly and are secured near the upper edges of the door section 14 along the side thereof. As illustrated in FIG. 7, the transverse portion 106 is formed on one end of a rod element 114. Rod element 114 extends through a sleeve element 116 mounted in the door section 14 and between a plate portion 118 on the outside door surface and the handle portion 108 on the other end of rod element 114. FIG. 7 also illustrates a latch member 120 mounted on the inner edge of the header 18 for engagement with the transverse portion 106 mounted on the T- shaped member 104. Latch member 120 is spring-loaded and is limited in its swinging movement to a vertical position in one direction by stop pin means 122. Latch member 120 has an outer tapered end portion 124 for initial engagement with the hook portion 106. The main body portion of the latch member 120 cooperates with the inside edge of the tapered portion 124 to form a hook-like element 126, which through its engagement with the transverse portion 106 holds the door in an open position as illustrated in FIG. 5.

As is readily understood from the above description of the door assembly components, the first step in opening the door is to turn the handle 86 thus unlatching the spring-loaded pin from engagement with the hook portion 98. Inward force along the upper edge of door section 14 will cause the counterbalanced door to move inwardly moving the door section 12 upwardly toward a position parallel to the support members 24. As the door section 12 nears its position of being substantially parallel to the support members 24, the rollers 60 engage against an edge of the openings 66 formed in the channel members 24 as illustrated in FIG. 3, moving the door section 12 forwardly toward the header 18 thereby releasing the support arms 44 from their engagement with the latch elements 28. Simultaneous with the rollers 60 engaging the edge of the openings 66, each of the outer tapered edges 58 on the plate elements 56 engage pins 36 thereby lifting the latch members 28 upwardly and above the end 54 of the rod-like elements 46 permitting rollers 52 to move rearwardly along the support members 24. As the rollers 60 move rearwardly along the support members 24, they carry the door section 12 to a position as illustrated in FIG. 5 wherein the bottom section 14 of the door 10 has moved to a horizontal position with its lower edge terminating in the plane of the vertical channel members 20. As the door is closed, the reverse operation is followed wherein the roller 60 moves forwardly along the support member 24 until it falls through the opening 66 permitting the door section 12 to begin its pivotal forward movement toward a vertical closed position. Simultaneous with the roller 60 moving through the opening 66, the tapered outer edge 58 on the support arm 44 is disengaged from the pin 36 permitting the latch member 28 to move by gravity to a position in engagement with the end portion 54 of the rod-like element 46.

As the door is nearly opened as illustrated in FIG. 5,

- the transverse portion 106 carried by the door section 14 automatically engages the latch member 120 carried by the header 18 locking the door in an open position. To close the door, either one of the cables connected to the T-shaped member 104 may be pulled thereby rotating the transverse portion 106 out of engagement with the latch member permitting the door to be moved to its closed position. As the door moves to its closed position, the spring-loaded pin 90 carried by the door section 14 normally in its extended position illustrated in FIGS. 7 and 8, automatically moves into locking engagement with the spring-loaded latch element 92 initially bearing against the tapered edge portion 96 displacing the latch portion 92 until the hook portion 98 snaps into hooking engagement with the outer end of the pin 90.

It is noted that the edge portion of opening 66 in the support member 24 may be made more wear resistant by the addition of a plate portion 128. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 6, the roller 60 may be moved along the door section 12 to a point where the rollers engagement 7 with the edge of the opening 66 permits the roller to roll into the opening 66 and thereby advancing the section 12 such that support member 44 is disengaged from latch member 28. It is to be noted, however, that if suflicient pressure is brought against the pin 36 by the plate element 56 carried by the support arm 44, the latch member 28 will be moved out of its locking position notwithstanding the lack of assistance from the roller 60 initially engaging the edge of the opening 66 in the support member 24. The roller engaging the edge portion of the opening 66 permits a smoother operation of the opening of the door 10.

The support members 24 may be located at any desirable spaced distance along the header 18, but when they are in the middle of the door area, as illustrated in FIG. 1, maximum support will be given to the center area of the door sections 12 and 14 preventing sagging when the door is in its open position. The relative height of the door sections 12 and 14 may be varied depending on the available overhead space rearwardly of the door when it is in its open position on one hand, and the 5 available space immediately behind the bottom door sec tion 14 during the opening and closing operations on the other hand. The availability of space in one location will permit an economy of space in the other.

Some changes may be made in the construction and arrangement of my door assembly without departing from the real spirit and purpose of my invention, and it is my intention to cover by my claims, any modified forms of structure or use of mechanical equivalents which may be reasonably included within their scope.

I claim:

1. In an overhead door .assembly;

a foldable door having a top section and a bottom section, said top section and said bottom section each having portions hingedly connected together;

a header having side members extending downwardly from each end;

support means extending rearwardly of said header;

means on said top door section adapted to pivot it to said support means adjacent said header;

latch means adapted to releasably secure said means on said top door section against movement along said support means until said top door section has been pivoted upwardly to a predetermined position;

release means adapted to release said latch means upon said top door section being pivoted to said predetermined position and thereby permitting said means on said top door section to move rearwardly along said support means carrying said top door section therewith, said top door section adapted to move rearwardly along said support means until the bottom section has pivoted on its hinge connection to said top door section to a position adjacent said header;

means on said bottom door section in engagement with one of said side members for limiting movement of said bottom door section in a horizontal plane, and

means on said door for supporting the portions hingedly connected together in a horizontal plane when said door is moved to its open position.

2. In an overhead door assembly;

a foldable door having a top section and a bottom section, said top section and said bottom section each having portions hingedly connected together;

a header having side members extending downwardly from each end;

support means extending rearwardly of said header;

means on said top door section adapted to pivot it to said support means adjacent said header;

latch means adapted to releasably secure said means on said top door section against movement along said support means until said top door section has been pivoted upwardly to a predetermined position;

release means adapted to release said latch means upon said top door section being pivoted to said predetermined position and thereby permitting said means on said top door section to move rearwardly along said support means carrying said top door section therewith, said top door section adapted to move rearwardly along said support means until the bot-tom edge of said bottom section has pivoted on its hinge connection to said top door section to a position adjacent said header;

means on said bottom door section in engagement with one of said side members for limiting movement of said bottom door section in a horizontal plane, and

means on said door for supporting the portions hingedly connected together in a horizontal plane when said door is moved to its open position.

3. In an overhead door assembly;

a foldable door having a top section and a bottom section, said top section and said bottom section each having portions hingedly connected together;

a header having side members extending downwardly from each end;

a horizontal support member extending rearwardly of said header;

means mounted on said top door section pivotably connecting it to said support member adjacent said header;

means pivotably mounted on said bottom door section slidably engaging one of said side members and preventing forward movement of said bottom door section relative to said side member;

latch means in engagement with said means on said top door section for limiting movement of said top door section along said support member;

release means for disengaging said latch means from said means on said top door section to permit movement of said top door section rearwardly of said header, said means on said top door section being in engagement with said support member as said top door section is moved rearwardly along said support member; and

means on one of said door sections adapted to engage said support member for supporting the portions hingedly connected together when said door is in its open position.

4. In an overhead door assembly;

a door in a closed vertical position having a top and a bottom section;

hinge means connecting said top and bottom sections;

a header adjacent the upper end of said top door section;

an elongated support member extending perpendicular and rearwardly of said header;

latch means in said door assembly;

support arm means on said top door section adapted to engage said latch means, said latch means adapted to releasably secure said top section adjacent said header;

latch release means on said top door section adapted to operatively engage said first latch means to release said support arm means from said latch means upon opening of said door;

said support arm means adapted to move rearwardly along said elongated support member as said door is moved to an open position carrying said top door section from a position adjacent said header to a position remote therefrom along said support memsaid bottom door section adapted to fold upwardly overlapping said first door section when moved from its closed to its open position; and

said support arm means adapted to re-engage said latch means upon moving said support arm means along said support member to a position adjacent said header during the closing of said door.

5. In an overhead door assembly,

a door having a top and bottom section hingedly connected,

a header adjacent the upper edge of said top section when said door is in its closed position,

side members extending below and at opposite ends of the header,

a pair of support members extending perpendicular and rearwardly of said header,

a flange surface formed along one side of each of said support members,

said flange surface having an opening formed therein intermediate its ends,

a latch means pivotally mounted on each of said support members adjacent said header,

a pair of spaced first support arms mounted on said top door section adjacent the top edge thereof for coaction with said support members,

each of said first support arms respectively having a portion in movable engagement with said flanges,

said latch means in engagement with and limiting rearward movement of said support arms when the door is in its closed position,

latch release means on said top door section adjacent each of said support arms,

a second support arm mounted rearwardly of each of said first support arms,

said latch release means adapted to engage said latch means upon pivoting said first door section upwardly on said first support arms thereby releasing said first support arms for rearward movement along said flange, said second support arms respectively adapted to enter said openings in said flanges upon pivoting said first door section upwardly on said first support arms, thereby said second support arms being in supporting engagement with said flanges as said top door section is moved rearwardly along said support members,

said bottom door section adapted to pivot about its hinged connection to said top door section as said door is being opened and having connecting elements movably engaging said side members retaining the bottom edge of the bottom door section in a vertical plane in common with the vertical plane of the header as the door is moved to its open position,

and said first support arms respectively adapted to be automatically re-engaged by said latch members upon movement of said first support arms to their position adjacent said header when the door is in its closed position.

6. In an overhead door assembly;

a foldable door having a top section and a bottom section with portions hingedly connected together;

a header having a side member extending downwardly from at least one end;

a stationary support means extending rearwardly of 7 said header; said header, side member and support means defining a door support structure, means on said top section releasably pivoting the upper end of said top section to said door support structure;

latch means for releasably securing said means on said top door section to said door support structure;

said means on said top section being adapted to move along said support means upon being disengaged from said latch means; 7

means for releasing said latch means from said means on said top section upon said top section being pivoted upwardly to a predetermined position as said bottom section is moved upwardly;

means connected to said bottom section for controlling the horizontal movement of said bottom section as said top section is pivoted upwardly and said bottom section moves upwardly;

said top section upon being pivoted to said predetermined position, moving rearwardly along said support means as said bottom section is moved upwardly; and

means for supporting the hinged together portions of said top and bottom sections of said door upon said top section pivoting upwardly to adjacent said predetermined position.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS HARRISON R. MOSELEY, Primary Examiner.

CHARLES E. OCONNELL, Examiner. 

1. IN AN OVERHEAD DOOR ASSEMLBY; A FOLDABLE DOOR HAVING A TOP SECTION AND A BOTTOM SECTION, SAID TOP SECTION AND SAID BOTTOM SECTION EACH HAVING PORTIONS HINGEDLY CONNECTED TOGETHER; A HEADER HAVING SIDE MEMBERS EXTENDING DOWNWARDLY FROM EACH END; SUPPORT MEANS EXTENDING REARWARDLY OF SAID HEADER; MEANS ON SAID TOP DOOR SECTION ADAPTED TO PIVOT IT TO SAID SUPPORT MEANS ADJACENT SAID HEADER; LATCH MEANS ADAPTED TO RELEASABLY SECURE SAID MEANS ON SAID TOP DOOR SECTION AGAINST MOVEMETN ALONG SAID SUPPORT MEANS UNTIL SAID TOP DOOR SECTION HAS BEEN PIVOTED UPWARDLY TO A PREDETERMINED POSITION; RELEASE MEANS ADAPTED TO RELEASE SAID LATCH MEANS UPON SAID TOP DOOR SECTION BEING PIVOTED TO SAID PREDETERMINED POSITON AND THEREBY PERMITTING SAID MEANS ON SAID TOP DOOR SECTION TO MOVE REARWARDLY ALONG SAID SUPPORT MEAN CARRYING SAID TOP DOOR SECTION THEREWITH, SAID TOP DOOR SECTION ADAPTED TO MOVE REARWARDLY ALONG SAID SUPPORT MEANS UNTIL THE BOTTOM SECTION HAS PIVOTED ON ITS HINGE CONNECTION TO SAID TOP DOOR SECTION TO A POSITION ADJACENT SAID HEADER; MEANS ON SAID BOTTOM DOOR SECTION IN ENGAGEMENT WITH ONE OF SAID SIDE MEMBERS FOR LIMITING MOVEMENT OF SAID BOTTOM DOOR SECTON IN A HORIZONTAL PLANE, AND MEANS ON SAID DOOR FOR SUPPORTING THE PORTIONS HINGEDLY CONNECTED TOGETHER IN A HORIZONTAL PLANE WHEN SAID DOOR IS MOVED TO ITS OPEN POSITION. 